Forrest Clark, center, the man accused of intentionally setting the massive Holy fire in the Cleveland National Forest, appears in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana with his attorneys Nicole Parness, left, and Chuck Hasse, right, of the Orange County Public Defender’s Office, for an arraignment on Friday, August 17, 2018. Bail was not granted. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Forrest Clark, left, the man accused of intentionally setting the massive Holy fire in the Cleveland National Forest, speaks with one of his attorneys Nicole Parness, of the Orange County Public Defender’s Office, as he appears in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana for an arraignment on Friday, August 17, 2018. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange County Superior Court Judge Kimberly K. Menninger speaks to Forrest Clark, the man accused of intentionally setting the massive Holy fire in the Cleveland National Forest, as he appears in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana for an arraignment on Friday, August 17, 2018. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Forrest Clark, left, the man accused of intentionally setting the massive Holy fire in the Cleveland National Forest, speaks with one of his attorneys Chuck Hasse of the Orange County Public Defender’s Office, as he appears in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana for an arraignment on Friday, August 17, 2018. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Forrest Clark, accused of igniting the Holy fire that has burned through large swaths of Orange and Riverside counties, was ordered Friday to undergo a mental evaluation following a court hearing in which he repeatedly interrupted the judge with rambling outbursts.

Clark, during an arraignment hearing at a Santa Ana courthouse, once again declared his innocence, before being asked to enter a plea, and repeatedly said he hadn’t seen a copy of the charges he faces. For the bulk of the hearing, Clark attempted to speak over the judge, offering a series of seemingly disconnected thoughts.

Clark, 51, repeatedly referred to his “live energy that is being recorded,” and kept referring to unnamed creditors. At one point, he began referencing the red tie of an attorney who was sitting in the courtroom waiting for another case, saying that meant the man was the only person in the room who could represent him.

“Do you know what you are doing here?” Orange County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Menninger asked.

“Absolutely, do you know what you are doing here?” Clark replied.

Menninger said that she had doubts as to Clark’s competency.

As the judge and the attorneys discussed that concern in her chambers, Clark turned his attention to the media, appearing to mouth words as he held up against the barrier of his holding cell a handwritten letter from someone who wrote they had tried to see him at the jail and was told he couldn’t have visitors. It was unclear what message he was trying to convey.

After the court recess, the judge said that despite the objections of Clark’s attorney she was ordering a mental evaluation, a ruling that places the criminal case against him on hold. After that evaluation, another judge will determine whether Clark is capable of understanding the charges he faces and assisting with his own defense.

In the meantime, Menninger ordered Clark to remain behind bars, now without the possibility of bail. He is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 10.

Near the end of the hearing, Menninger cut off Clark’s microphone as he continued to ramble rather than answer her questions. Clark kept speaking, even after the hearing ended, but his words were muffled by the holding cell.

Unlike the previous hearing, when Clark used his long hair to cover his face and turned his back to the court, Clark on Friday made little effort to hide from the courtroom audience.

Clark, 51, owns a cabin in Holy Jim, the rustic canyon in the Cleveland National Forest where the Holy fire first began early last week. He has been charged with six felony counts, including arson and making criminal threats. If convicted, he faces a life sentence.

Fire officials have said physical evidence at Clark’s cabin, along with witness statements, tie him to the alleged arson. However, they have acknowledged that no one saw him actually ignite the blaze.

Holy Jim neighbors have described Clark’s behavior over the years as erratic. Mike Milligan, the chief of the Holy Jim Volunteer Fire Department, has shown a reporter a text Clark sent a week before the fire saying “It’s all gonna burn.”

The Holy fire has destroyed 12 single-family residences in Orange County and another six in Riverside County.

Sean Emery is a crime and public safety reporter for the Register who covers state and federal courts and criminal justice issues. He has worked for the Register since 2006, previously covering breaking news, the city of Irvine, the Orange County Great Park, and the city of San Juan Capistrano.

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